Traditional oriental medicine recognizes that all illnesses arise in depths of our minds, and only after that they materialize in reality. Official medicine has recently inclined towards this very explanation of the nature of illnesses. That is why during increasing mental stresses the role of the medicines that relieve emotional strains also increases.

Depression and antidepressant drugs

Depression is a state of low mental condition, emotional dejection, feeling of hopelessness, accompanied with a bleak outlook, when nothing seems to get better; the patient is liable to fixed distressing thoughts and a loss of interest in life (which can become a reason for suicide) and sleeping disorders.

There is no single cause of depression; different factors can contribute to it, such as constant stresses, information overload, grief, etc. On the chemical level depression is provoked by deficiency of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in central nervous system that facilitates communication between nerve cells. This discovery has implemented in the development of a range of medicines for depression treatment, which were named antidepressants.

What is Prozac?

Prozac (international nonproprietary name Fluoxetine) is an antidepressant which contributes to the increase of a serotonin level, and therefore enlarges the amount of serotonin in the point of transmission of nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. It brings moderate stimulating effect, decreases nervousness and fears, occasionally reduces appetite and can cause a weight loss. Prozac is used to treat depression; this ability is even shown in the film “Prozac Nation”, where it is Prozac that helps a young woman with her depressive disorder.

Prozac Indications

You should not take Prozac without consulting to your doctor first. It should be taken as prescribed to treat:

- Depressive disorder, after its causes are clarified;

- Panic disorder, after its causes are clarified;

- Bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by binge eating, usually “to cope” with stresses

- Drug and alcohol addiction, when the absence of alcohol and drugs causes severe depression.

Prozac Contraindications and Precautions

Prozac is an active medicine; therefore it has a number of contraindications. Prozac is not recommended for

- Anyone allergic to any ingredients of the medicine;

- Patients under 18 years old;

- Pregnant women and nursing mothers;

- Patients with epilepsy, as Prozac improves the transmission between nerve cells and as a result the intensification of convulses;

- Patients with inclination to suicide, as Prozac provokes hyperactivity and increases the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior;

- Patients with diabetes, liver and kidneys malfunctions, and weakening of bladder muscles, as Prozac can increase these phenomena;

- Patients with prostate hypertrophy, or adenoma;

- Patients with glaucoma, or raised intraocular pressure.

Is Prozac overdose possible?

Yes, it is. The overdose of this or similar medicines can cause symptoms of serotonergic syndrome: fever, shivering, mental confusion, agitation, irritable mood, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, rapid or uneven heartbeat.

Prozac side effects

Doctors should notify their patients about side effects Prozac can occasionally cause:

On the nervous system: excess agitation, fatigability, anxiety neurosis, headaches, sleep disorders, or sleepiness, abnormal dreams (nightmares), visual acuity problems, taste perversion, enlarge pupils, abnormal thinking, tremor, movement disorders, and occasionally spasmodic seizures.

On the digestive system: dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, bad appetite.

On the urogenital system: urination disorders, menstruation disorders, impotence.

On the Cardiovascular System: palpitation, orthostatic phenomena (blood pressure differences upon assuming various body postures).

On the endocrine system: glucose insufficiency.

Following allergic reactions are possible: skin eruption, pruritus (itching), nettle rash and angioneurotic edema.

It should be remembered that during Prozac treatment alcohol should be avoided, as it can cause the overdose symptoms. It is better not to take Prozac before driving a car, as the medicine can impair your concentration or reactions.

Prozac is a time-proved antidepressant, and despite of a many side effects, it can bring relief to a patient, but only under the medical supervision.

You can receive info about it and other medicines on this site